Book Review of The Amazing Adventures of Pencilman
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The Children’s Book Review
The Amazing Adventures of Pencilman
Created by Laurel Cash
Ages: 8-12 | 124 Pages
Publisher: Independently Published (2022) | ISBN: 979-8411831146
What to Expect: Fantasy, adventure, and elements of writing.
Author Laurel Cash draws on her personal experiences with reluctant writers to craft this short novel aimed at middle-grade students.
In The Amazing Adventures of Pencilman, a reluctant writer and new 4th grader, Connor, meets his new study buddy. Connor’s journey is not only entertaining but also educational, as he faces obstacles many young writers encounter, including writer’s block and self-doubt. Through his interactions with Pencilman, readers are introduced to strategies to help overcome these challenges, thus building confidence in their own writing abilities.
Fast-paced and written with short chapters, readers are sure to enjoy the lively adventures and engaging characters. By using simple-to-read vocabulary and the voice of a 4th grader, Cash does a wonderful job of bringing Connor and Pencilman to life. The relatability of Connor’s frustrations around writing, combined with the adventures the two have together throughout the school year, makes this a fun read.
Each chapter reads like a separate adventure, making this book perfect for reading a chapter at a time, allowing readers to better engage with the text, and providing transitional readers an ideal opportunity to practice fluency and comprehension. The quick pacing keeps the story exciting and accessible, encouraging even reluctant readers to keep turning the pages. The story also lends itself well as a classroom read-aloud to facilitate discussion of writing techniques and to provide writing prompts.
With each chapter introducing new challenges and creative solutions, The Adventures of Pencilman is a fun and motivating read for middle-grade audiences.
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About the Author
Laurel Cash was born in Tampa, Florida, where she spent the first 6 years of her life on a dairy farm. Her family later moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in education and began her teaching career. She has 2 children: Connor, a Blackhawk helicopter pilot in the army with a wife and 3 kids, and Savannah, who watches over her from heaven. Laurel now lives in Michigan with her husband and 2 dogs, Stella and Sofie, and currently teaches STEM.
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